Sight for fire-arms



(No Model.)

B. L. BERTHOUD.

SIGHT FOR FIRE ARMS.

Patented May 13, 1884.

M M y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDVARD L. BERTHOUD, OF GOLDEN, COLORADO.

SIGHT FOR FIRE-ARMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part 'of Letters Patent No. 298,659, dated May 13, 1884.

1 Application filed November 24, 1883. (N0 model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. BERIHOUD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Golden, in the county of Jefferson and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gun and Cannon Sights, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to convert a stadia into a rifle or common sight, whereby it is adapted to ranges of from one hundred to three thousand yards; also, to provide a novel method of arranging rear and front sights upon a rifle or cannon, whereby the stadia-sight is rendered more available and certain. These objects I accomplish in the manner hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a cross sectional view of a riflebarrel provided with a stadia-sight according to my invention; Fig. 2, a plan or top view of a rifle on a small scale provided with my invention; Fig; 3, a side elevation of the same; Fig. 4, a sectional View on the line a" x of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 a sectional view on the line y y of Fig. 2.

Referring to said drawings, the number 1 indicates the stadia-sight, which is pivoted to a lug, 2, at the left-hand side of the barrel 3, near or at the muzzle, but in such position on the under side of the barrel as not to interfere with the ordinary bayonet-stud, the said sight, by being hinged or pivoted to the under side of the barrel, hanging in a vertical position at one side, as in full lines, Fig. 1. The rear globe-sight, 4 or 5, is arranged at two and one-half or three feet distant from the sight 1, as may be convenient and suitable, and it is likewise arranged on the left-hand side of the gun, either upon thebend of the stock 6 or near the breech end of the barrel, such a globesight consisting of a lateral projection or flange having a central orifice for the eye to look through.

The sight 1 is constructed 011 the principle of the stadia-sight with a slot, 7 8, but differing therefrom in the respect that the usual stadia is a true angular opening, while in my invention the opening is not truly angular, but the side 7 is uniformly curved from end to end, while the side 8 is perfectly straight, thereby constituting a variable opening. The opening, as marked 100, 200,300, 500, 700, and 900 yards, is calculated for the height of an infantry 0r cavalry soldier at the ranges alluded to, strictly in accordance with the required elevation of the muzzle in degrees and minutes requisite to enable the target or other obj ect aimed at to be struck by the projectile at the different ranges indicated on the sight, which is effected by the curved side 7 opposite the straight side 8 of the variable sight-v opening. a

A slide, 9, is arranged on the sight 1 so as to be adjusted thereon, and in practice the stadia-sight is turned to a horizontal position, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 1, looking at the target or object through the globe-sight 4 or 5 and the'slot in the sight 1, after which the slide 9 is adjusted by sliding it until it indicates in the slot 7 8 that part of the slot which exactly includes the height of the target or ob ject aimed at. The slide being accurately adj usted, the sight 1 is turned back until it hangs vertically, after which aim is taken at the target or object and the gun fired, when the projectile will reach the range indicated. This is due to the arrangement of the stadiasight under the barrel adjacent to the muzzle of the barrel, to enable the barrel to be proportionately elevated as the range isincreased. Great steadiness of aim is also secured, for the reason that at any range used the eye of the person is always, when firing, at an invariable pointthat is, the globe-sight 4 or 5, and therefore the aim, is necessarily more certain and steady than in the strained position of the person using the elevated rear or ladder sight of the ordinary system. The combination and arrangement described being strictly correlative for distance to the depression or elevation of the slide for increased or decreased range, the person has no occasion to estimate, calculate, or measure the distance of the target or object, nor necessity for the employment of any proportionate or direct measure distance.

By my invention a recruit can be as easily taught the use of the stadia-sight as the most instructed officer, as my invention does not necessarily involve a knowledge of numbers, length, or unit of measure? Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination, with the barrel of a rifle or cannon, of the stadiasight secured adjacent to the muzzle, and constructed with the Variable opening formed by a straight side and a curved side, and a slide on said sight for indicating in the variable opening that part of the said opening which exactly includes the height of the object aimed at, together with the exact elevation of the muzzle required to strike the object, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the barrel of a rifle or cannon, of the stadia-sight hinged adjacent to the muzzle, to be adjusted either to a horizontal or a vertical position, as described, and constructed with the Variable opening formed by a straight side and a curved side, and a slide on said sight for indicating in the variable opening that part of the said opening which exactly includes the height of the object aimed at, together with the exact elevation of the muzzle required to strike the object, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the barrel of a rifle or cannon, of a stadia-sight hinged adjacent to the muzzle, and constructed with an opening variable in width throughout its length, and a slide on said sight, whereby when the latter is turned to a horizontal p0- sition the adjustment of the slide will indicate in the variable opening that part of said open ing which exactly includes the height of the object aimed at, and when the sight is turned downward to a vertical position the exact elevation of the muzzle will be indicated for striking the object, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDXVARD L. BERTHOUD.

Witnesses:

Josnri-r '1. BOYD, W. K. 1\[ACDOUGALD. 

